NAIROBI, Kenya (AP):

Kenya's rival politicians signed a power-sharing agreement yesterday and shook hands after weeks of bitter negotiations on how to end the country's deadly post-election crisis.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga referred to his rival as "my countryman, President Mwai Kibaki", an important sign of acceptance from a man who has said Kibaki's re-election in the December 27, 2007 vote was a sham.

Tear-gassed

But in a reminder of the previous weeks' chaos, police fired tear gas to disperse dozens of people who gathered outside Kibaki's office to witness the signing.

Kibaki and Odinga, both in blue suits, looked stoic as they signed the deal, side by side, to create the prime minister's post for Odinga that the Opposition had been demanding.

For the last two months, Kenyans have known nothing but sadness,'' Odinga said.

Kibaki added, "This process has reminded us that as a nation there are more issues that unite than that divide us."

Both Kibaki and Odinga claim to have won the country's presidential election, which observers say was marred by rigging on both sides.

As prime minister, Odinga will have the power to "coordinate and supervise" government affairs, according to the deal. That is more authority than the Government had wanted to give, but it still leaves open whether the prime minister will have executive authority that cannot be overruled by the president.

It was unclear when Odinga would take up the position. Kibaki said he is reconvening Parliament next Thursday to begin work on the constitutional changes necessary to make the deal into law.

Street violence

The dispute set off street violence that killed more than 1,000 people and eviscerated the East African country's economy. Post-election violence, much of it pitting other ethnic groups against Kibaki's Kikuyu people, has largely subsided in recent weeks, but the country remains on edge.

Kenyans were closely following the negotiations. In downtown Nairobi, yesterday, people were gathering anywhere they could find a television - in hotels, outside electronics shops and in their homes.